Juwayriyyah Bint Al-Haarith

The fifth year of Hijrah (the Migration of Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam from Makkah to Al-Madeenah) was a year rich in major events. During its second half, the Muslims were busy fighting the Parties (coalition of the tribes that rallied against them in an attempt to impede the spread of Islam).

Muslims dug a trench around Al-Madeenah to defend it against the enemies outside. But a greater danger was facing them from inside, that of the Jewish tribes who breached the peace treaty. After defeating the Parties, the Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam rallied the Muslims against the Jewish tribe of Banu An-Nadheer first. They blockaded their fortress for twenty-five days until they all surrendered. Then the Muslims set off towards the tribe of Banu Al-Mustaliq who were gathering forces to fight them.

The two armies met at a watering well called Al-Muraysee'. A fierce battle took place which ended by a heavy defeat of Banu Al-Mustaliq. Most of their fighters were killed and their women were taken captives. Their leader, Al-Haarith Ibn Dhiraar, escaped, but his daughter, Barrah, fell to the hands of the Muslims.

The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, distributed the captives among the Muslims. The daughter of Al-Haarith fell to the lot of Thaabit Ibn Qays may Allah be pleased with him. 'Aa'ishah may Allah be pleased with her, who accompanied the Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam on this expedition, related: "When the Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam distributed the captives of Banu Al-Mustaliq, she (Barrah) fell to the lot of Thaabit Ibn Qays (may Allah be pleased with him).

She was married to her cousin, who was killed during the battle. She gave Thaabit a deed (document), agreeing to pay him for her freedom. She was a very beautiful woman. She captivated every man who saw her. She came to the Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam to ask for his help in the matter. As soon as I saw her at the door of my room, I took a dislike to her, for I knew that he would see her as I saw her. She went in and told him sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam who she was, the daughter of Al-Haarith Ibn Dhiraar, the chief of his people. She said: 'You can see the state to which I have been brought. I have fallen to the lot of Thaabit, and have given him a deed for my ransom, and I have come to ask your help in the matter.' He sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam said: 'Would you like something better than that? I will discharge your debt, and marry you.' She said: 'Yes, O Messenger of Allah!' 'Then it is done.' He sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam replied." [Ahmad]

This was the event that turned Barrah's (later named Juwayriyyah by the Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) life around. For not only did she accept Islam, thus saving herself from Hellfire, but by accepting the Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam for her husband and thus became Umm Al-Mu'mineen (Mother of the Believers).

The news that the Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam had married Juwayriyyah may Allah be pleased with her spread out, and now that Banu Al-Mustaliq were the Prophet's relatives by marriage, the Muslims found it hard to keep them as their captives. "The relatives of the Messenger of Allah!" They exclaimed. They set them free. A hundred families were released from captivity because of this blessed marriage. "I do not know a woman who was a greater blessing to her people than she." Said 'Aa'ishah may Allah be pleased with her.

Juwayriyyah may Allah be pleased with her was a woman of exceptional beauty, and because she belonged to the highest class of her society, she may Allah be pleased with her acquired the best upbringing and education that was available during her time. She may Allah be pleased with her was twenty years old when the Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam married her. No doubt, she may Allah be pleased with her was the source of jealousy for his other wives may Allah be pleased with them, but this did not prevent them from appreciating her good character and companionship.

When the Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam went back to Al-Madeenah after that raid (on Banu Al-Mustaliq), with Juwayriyyah may Allah be pleased with her, and was at a place called 'Thaatul-Jaysh', he sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam entrusted her to one of the Ansaar (supporters of the Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam from Al-Madeenah). Her father, Al-Haarith, discovered that she may Allah be pleased with her had been captive and went back to Al-Madeenah, bringing his daughter's ransom. When he reached Al-'Aqeeq (a place near Al-Madeenah), he looked at the camels he had brought as her ransom and admired two of them greatly, so he hid them in one of the passes of Al-'Aqeeq. Then he came to the Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam dragging the camels behind him, and told him: "My daughter is too noble to be taken as a captive. Set her free by this ransom." The Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam replied: "Isn't it better that we let her choose for herself?" "That is fair enough," said Al-Haarith. He came to his daughter and said: "This man is letting you choose so do not dishonor us!" "I choose the Messenger of Allah," she may Allah be pleased with her, replied calmly. "What a disgrace!" he exclaimed.

The Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam then said: "Where are the two camels which you have hidden in Al-'Aqeeq in such-and such a pass?" Al-Haarith exclaimed: "I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah, and that you Muhammad are the Messenger of Allah! For none could have known of this but Allah." He may Allah be pleased with him and his two sons who were with him and some of his men accepted Islam. The Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam asked him again for his daughter's hand and he may Allah be pleased with him accepted. The Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam gave his new bride four hundred Dirhams as her dowry.

Juwayriyyah may Allah be pleased with her accepted Islam wholeheartedly and followed the excellent example of her husband sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam in the worship of her Lord, trying to even compete with him sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam at times. He sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam left her room once for Fajr (dawn prayer) and came back after Dhuha (forenoon): "I spent all the time you were absent supplicating," she told him sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam. He sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam said: "Shall I tell you a few words, if you say them they will be heavier in the scale (on the Day of Judgment) than what you have done? You say; 'Subhaana Allaahi 'adada khalqih, subhaana Allaahi ridha nafsihi, subhana Allaahi zinata 'arshihi, subhaana Allaahi midaada kalimaatih." (Exalted (and Praised) is Allah as many times as the number of His creatures, and as much as pleases Him, and as much as the weight of His Throne, and as much as the ink for His Words). [At-Tirmithi]

Juwayriyyah may Allah be pleased with her spent her life in seclusion after the Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam passed away. The Caliphs may Allah be pleased with them would provide for her sustenance, but she would spend it all for the sake of Allah. She may Allah be pleased with her performed Hajj many times, and was known for her passionate worship.

She may Allah be pleased with her kept away from all the trials that raged later during her life. She may Allah be pleased with her died during the caliphate of Mu'aawiyah may Allah be pleased with him, at the age of sixty five.